That's the norm, they did it all last year as well.

KP runs over the game plan and tactics (hahahaha) then Royce has the final word.

I'm dreading playing Leeds next Sunday but i'm heading down to Langtree Park to get behind the lads once again.

Getting Royce out is a start and is the only option now if any pride is to be salvaged from this season, but the problems at the club go deeper and higher.

McManus has done a fantastic job in keeping the club afloat financially and getting the new stadium built. BUT, he's also overseen the complete destruction of the coaching, player development and squad development side of things. People go on about our fabulous youth system and how wonderful it is. But since Jammer how many genuinely good players have we produced? Eastmond is the most talented and he's already a distant memory. Lomax is a possibility if he finds a settled position, but none of the others are up to it. We've not produced a single decent forward since Jammer.

The choice of coach has been a massive problem for the club as well. The last two appointments have seen uncharismatic coaches with no motivational qualities or tactical ability. They are both assistant coaches who would not get head coach roles in the NRL. But despite the glaring failings both coaches have/had, I actually feel sorry for them. What can any coach do with that playing squad? I've been banging on about it on here for years now, I've been mocked and derided for it, but you are all seeing the fruition of the poor recruitment and retention decisions and you can now see I was right. There is a lot of hysteria on here about sacking Royce (Which I'm all for, as hopefully it can inspire the players and turn the club in the right direction from a morale perspective) but the cracks have been showing for years, they've just been covered by the likes of James Graham and James Roby.

We have about the 8th or 9th best squad in Super League currently. We are about to sack/not renew the contract of another poor coach. Our recruitment is pathetic and has been for years.

McManus is regarded as a legend and the saviour of the club by many, but he's got as much wrong in his time at Saints and there will be no trophies won at the new stadium for a good few years.

So, getting rid of Simmons and installing Purtill - for me - looks like it would be a case of the Emperor's new clothes.

Potter did exactly the same Pete.

We've been singing from the same song sheet and I've also took the stick but I've also seen this coming for years.

The lack of recruitment and not replacing good players with the best quality players we can afford for years was a problem and we did sign players on they ain't been good enough.

I've said it on a few threads over past few weeks that Simmons recruitment for this year will have massive impact for years to come.

We all know we need at least one prop, halfback and a centre but how the hell do we get them? Our quota spots are taken up for next few years so we can't look overseas. We ain't got the cash to go out and buy players, so unless the is good quality English players off contract then we in dire $hit!

Also, we have to find away to replace Meli and flannery next year who are classed as none qouta players.

It's a mess, it really is!

I've no idea what advantage sacking Royce would have. He isn't the one making ridiculous errors or giving away penalties, both of which are a big part of what is killing us just now.

What should be done is that our forwards and senior players should be sent to the Chairman to explain their lack of willingness to work hard, then they should be fined, tarred and feathered and then stuck in the stocks for us to throw pies at because frankly, they are another big part of our problem.

Without go forward our halves and backs can do precious little but even so our backs keep on trying to do the work that the forwards are too bone idle to do.

The real problem with Saints is that they set the benchmark so high that when things start to go a bit wrong they have alot further to fall. I know you lads are disappointed with your start to the season, but that is all it is. A start. This is a long competition, then playoffs, and there's the Challenge Cup too.

All Saints need is that one win to build on. O.K. I admit your next few weeks are tough, but if the side stick it out & give their all (& play some percentage rugby) that win WILL come. Then another. And then the corner is turned.

Remember, most fans would give their eye teeth to have been able to watch the side you've watched week after week in the not so distant past. And to have got the trophies too.

He did, I've nothing against this if that's how they do things and if it works. I was just commenting on a post who mentioned this.

I'd prefer the head coach to do the talking myself but if it works then so be it.

I agree, the players should shoulder the blame but when a team is playing like we are then the the coach takes the ultimate blame.

Sometimes things just don't work out and the need for change is required and IMO the only way we can rescue thus season is by chance.

We can't exactly sack the players so as in all sports it's the coach that makes way.

The bulk of the issues stem from the coach though. The team look badly coached, badly prepared and barely motivated. The signings he has made don't cover the areas we really need and his constant chopping and changing of players and the positions they inhabit is also causing - IMHO - confusing, panic and stress, which is leading to a lack of confidence and could potentially stunt the development of the likes of Foster, Makinson, Lomax and the T-100 exo-skeleton.

We have a good enough squad, with enough talent and experience to be performing much better than we currently are. The blame, is squarely on the coaching team, as this club looks about as far from prepared as I have ever seen.

We still had plenty of time and territory tonight. But when this team are in the opposition's 20, they aren't under any pressure at all. We've got no moves at all and that is, surely, the fault of the coaching staff? I've skipped through the game on Sky+ and our 'red zone' play is just awful. Hohaia making nothing runs and wasting tackles, balls needlessly and half heartedly spread wide with no intent or speed, nothing kicks with no one in the line aware of the planned move. A decent coach could sort those things out and give us direction and a game plan.

again

We do look a poorly coached team and we did last year.

Your forwards seemed to start well tonight, they were well on top and making some good meters early on. They then seemed to fade, not sure is this was fatigue or just laziness.

Laziness. They did much more work last year when we were carrying loads of youngsters. But then we had Jammer last year to kick their backsides.

It sounds cliche but he really did lead by example, miss seeing him play, was nice to see a forward turning games for a change.

Give it a rest you crying lunkhead before my eyes bleed. Whatever Hohaia is or isn't cannot be determined within a handful of games (where he has already played several positions). It's theatrical whiners like you who would have had Willie Talau run out of the team before he ever managed to show some form. Lyon too, probably.

Someone save us from Saints fans who make pie-eaters look like rational beings.

You can't actually fault anything I've posted though can you?



What Hohaia is could be determined by anyone who has watched him during his career. He's a willing player who's diminutive size makes him a worry amongst tired players or close to the line. He's been a utility player throughout his career, he's no halfback and was signed as one. I'm right on Hohaia, Jon Wells picked up on how poor his work at hooker is on the Sky coverage too, but I suppose he's a crying lunkhead too?

At least you think all is going well.

I'm not buying all this crap that we will be there at the business end of the season and look at Leeds last year. We look crap, utter crap!

You're playing the man, not the ball, Muggers.

I don't post much these days, but that performance got me out of my bath-chair. It was unacceptably bad. In fact, it was terrible. There's a very good chance we're looking at a run of 8 games without a win. While I could swallow 3 losses to Wigan, Wire and Leeds, the Saints squad is better on paper than Hull, Hull KR, Catalans and certainly Bradford. In fact, on paper, we're better than Huddersfield, but on the pitch they are light years ahead.

That was awful stuff. Amateur in places. Forwards who couldn't get past the PTB, half-backs who couldn't deliver a pass to a running threequarter, and threequarters who - on the rare occasions they got the ball - had all the penetration of an impotent panda. Awful. Awful.

Something needs to change, fast, or this will be our equivalent of the season the pies had to cheat to avoid relegation. I don't care if it's firing the coach or whipping some players, but something has to change. I'm all booked up to bring the family up for the game against Wigan, and after tonight, I'm a bit unsure as to whetehr I can bear to put myself through watching us get hammered by 40 points.

Exactly !remember what was being said about MacDermott and Leeds last season

Just seen this thread and I had a little chuckle to myself.

Cast your minds back to this time last year and my team Leeds were in a very similar position and look what happened. Its a blip and it'll turn around. You'll get nowhere if you kick the coach out now.

Really??

Controversial.

At one point I'm sure the caption on Sky said that Hohaia had made 52 tackles and he made several more after that. If Roby had made that many we would all be going on about him being a machine.